Tell Congress to sustain NSF funding for undersea aquifers and more!
In summer 2025 off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the joint U.S. and EU-backed NSF Expedition 501 research effort followed up on years of scientific rumors and speculation by conducting the world’s first large-scale drilling for fresh water — under the ocean. They withdrew 50,000 liters for analysis, and realized that the extent of this resource is much, much, much bigger than they anticipated: a massive previously unknown undersea freshwater aquifer potentially stretching from New Jersey to Maine! It’s possible — even likely — that there are many more unmapped undersea freshwater aquifers around the world. Heat-stricken cities might someday be able to slake their thirst with “offshore water drilling” platforms!
This is an extraordinary discovery with fascinating potential uses, made possible thanks to U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. There’s still much more relevant research to be done here, with many questions unanswered. Are these undersea aquifers connected to groundwater on land? Are they independent, left over from melting glaciers? Are they a renewable resource? Are they connected to marine ecosystems? Would using this water be cheaper or safer than desalination?
Expedition 501 is just one of many, many examples, from CRISPR to semiconductors, showing that NSF research funding enables the new discoveries and innovations that are the basis of American prosperity and competitiveness. But it’s now under threat. In the Fiscal Year 2026 federal budget, the White House has proposed to cut NSF funding from $9 billion to $3.9 billion — a devastating and senseless national sabotage. The House of Representatives has proposed to cut NSF funding by “only” $2 billion, while the Senate has proposed to nearly maintain it at $9 billion. It’s still up in the air and will be decided in upcoming budget negotiations.
Congress must act to at the very least maintain NSF funding in the upcoming budget, and should act to increase it and further advance American science and innovation.
Tell Congress to sustain NSF funding for undersea aquifers and more!